The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-02-24
KITTRELL, N. c.
Something Of its Past and Present His
tory-Its Manufacturing and Mercan-
tile interests, &c.

About the year 1859, the Kittreus Springs
property was purchased by the Blacknalls,
three brothers. Col. IhoS. j. DR.. q. W.
and c. g. afterwards Colonel of the 23rd
North Carolina Infantry. Prior to this
purchase the water here had attained celeb
rity for its medicinal properties and people
in search of health came here with their
tents and camped out. When the Black
nails came in possession of the property,
for which they paid twenty thousand dol
lars (worth, without the springs, about five
hundred) they put up nice buildings and
opened tyst-class hotel. At this date the
depot, (StauntOn) was moved to its present
site and its maine changed to "Kittrells."
The springs here now became the resort not
only Of the sick, but also of the pleasure
seekers of the surrounding country, and at
the commencement of the war had attained
quite a reputation. Soon after the COM
mencement of hostiliti s, the Confederate
government, both on account of its geo.
graphical position and its medicinal water,
seized the springs property for hospital
purposes and used it for this until the sur
render. Soon after the surrender the prop
erty was purchased by the Rev Z. +; Rid
dick, who opened large Female School,
which he successfully conducted for sever
al years. Mr.. Riddick left here and went
to Oxford. There was some litigation about
the property, which was still used for
school purposes until it burned down in or
about the year 1872. During this interval
many stores and residences were built near
the depot. CThere would have been many
more if the lots could have been purchas
ed } and kittrel became quite slightly
and thriving village.
In 1s e. W sa @ o BaGkps the ped elder der
Mazeppa Chewing Tobacco in the old
Episcopal church, which latter fact
doubtless accounts in some measure for its
uniformity and excellence. At the age of
IS Chas. l.. the second son of Col. Z. Z.
commenced the manufacture of the "Oro-
noca." With constantly increasing de-
mand for their work, these gentleman
found it necessary to enlarge their capaci-
ty and the fall of 1888 consolidated their
business under the firm name Of Blacknall
Bros, taking in as partner, the younger
brother w. II. This mandatory is one
of the enterprises of Kittrell and of Vance
county, and deserves consideration at our
hands, as in addition to the employment
given in the manufacture of plug, many
women and boys find work here in putting
I'D their CLEAR the Track" smoking tObac-
CO, the brand of which they purchased from
Perry Bros about two years ago. We came
near emitting that after Mr.. Riddick left
the springs were reopened as pleasure re-
sort in 1870 by Maj. ThOs. Ii. Blacknall
who ran them several seasons with fair
success The analysis OF this water shows
iron and magnesia in desirable quantities.
In hurried trip here we met several old
friends and formed some pleasant new ac-
Quaintances who we hope to make friends
| of the GOLD LEAF, and for this purpose
| will visit them again il the near future,
taking time to learn more fully what may
t be OF interest in and about the place. For
! the present we have only space to mention
! a few of the leading houses doing business
there. First we went in to see our old
friend Capt. Thos. Capeheart, who supplies
/ his friends with general merchandise:
Thence we went to the tobacco factory and
saw the process of putting smoking tobacco
in bags. From here we lounged IN the
store of f. W. Ellis where we were shown
some most beautiful fancy work, the result
of Mrs. Ellis artistic hands, and the verl-
table old stump for which she received the
diploma at the Exposition. Then we had
the pleasure of an introduction to Messrs.
J. NJ. WoOdliff & Bro, two enterprlslne
young men just opening general stock
which they propose to dispose OF at fall
prices. Next we saw Messrs. Hedgepeth
{. Barnes, another enterprising mercantile
firm. Mr.. Hedgepeth has been in kittreIl
for several years, while his partner Is IRON
=! Wilson and q new conner. After night mac
fallen, and business was over, we spent ar
hour most pleasantly with those old friend:
of the GOLD LEAF, MeSsrs. J. l.. Hunt q
Bro. For the many courteSies extended
we return most sincere thanks, regrettine
space compels US TO defer till another tint
what We have to say about the churches
the Davis Hotel and other men and thing
of interest. We are under special obliga
ton to Mr.. {. L. Blacknall for nice 10
. of Aazeppa and other kindnesses. -